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Explanatory report - Student Ideas competition Berlin 2002
A "Berlin Strip"
The competition area lies isolated from the urban context though right in the center of Berlin. The only signifi cant feature given as orientation is the B96 leading towards the arterial road connecting the inner city with the autobahn. This road separating the area along the main axis is transformed into a new kind of "strip" combining the traditional qualities of the American strip and mall with features commonly attributed to the City of Berlin.
In order to provide an entrance to the site area we slightly enlarged the competition area which now also comprises a square facing the new central station of Berlin, the Lehrter Stadtbahnhof. A number of larger buildings lead directly towards a square which marks the intersection of the B96 and Heidestrasse and the beginning of the "Berlin Strip". The square which is cut into the surrounding building mass is not set parallel to the road in order to establish a special relationship with the Lehrter Stadtbahnhof and provide "Sittesque" enclosure of this most central square. The Strip adjacent to the square is entered trough buildings with colonnades.
Due to the proximity of the station the southern area of the site is characterized by a high density of restaurants , cinemas, shopping, and business facilities while the Strip itself shows a more linear structure with numerous stores inviting to a leisurely shopping stroll as well as quick access to daily supplies and an emphasis on service offers. The generous sidewalks paved with the typical Berlin cobbles are lined with trees. While on the western side linear building structures border the street the eastern part is formed by block structures that are themselves subdivided into smaller units to assure a greater diversity of building uses. Every now and then the street widens to accommodate sub centers that offer short term parking zones as well as access to public underground car parks (traffi c spaces).
Towards the north the Strip ends with public buildings which service as a counterpoint to the buildings in the south.
The smaller streets parallel to the Strip differ according to the distinct qualities of the areas facing the S-Bahn and waterside respectively. The area adjacent to the Spandauer Kanal is subdivided by a smoothly splined road separating the closed blocks towards the Strip from the u-shaped residential buildings facing the waterside. Risen courtyards allow more privacy for residents while still maintaining the beautiful view on the water. The riverside promenade is newly established along the channel which is crossed by two additional pedestrian bridges. The southern end of the promenade is connected to the center square via a more intimate square at the backside of the Museum of Contemporary Art that provides nice cafes and restaurants avoiding traffic.
The western part is structured by linear streets offering a direct access to all buildings and giving this area a more functional atmosphere. The emphasis lies on service offers and small companies that allow the smaller residential part to coexist.
Thus the project takes advantage of the given situation by providing two individual areas alongside the central axis and enhancing the status of Heidestrasse as a "Berlin Strip".
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